Sometime last year I talked how small we humans are in the universe. That was driven home to me last October on vacation in Nova Scotia, Canada.

One of the most incredible sites on our trip was the 24 hours we spent in the tiny fishing village of Peggy’s Cove. Even though it was a tiny fishing village, the rocky coast there was both massive and amazing!

It was very easy to feel small on those rocks, just a speck in the universe; in fact, I’m even a speck in the photo posted here. Thinking about how big the universe is leads me to believe that God must be so awesome.

During Lent, I talked about humility and said, “Your view of God will determine how humble you are.” I was thinking about Peggy’s Cove when I crafted that statement. The bigger we realize God is, the smaller we realize we are. Humility is a by-product of our view of God.

Check out some of our photos from our trip through the Canadian Maritime Provinces on our photos page.

The writings of early church theologians (like Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom) pointed to the fact that God played a practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. Three days Jesus lay in the tomb. Three days the devil celebrated. But on the morning of the third day, God had the last laugh! Jesus conquered death. Jesus conquered sin. Jesus was alive again, bringing new life and laughter to all.

“Risus paschalis - the Easter laugh,” the early theologians called it.The Greeks in the early centuries of Christianity began an old Easter custom called, “Holy Humor Sunday.”

Holy Humor Sunday was a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on the Sunday after Easter. For centuries in Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant countries, the week following Easter Sunday, including “Bright Sunday” (the Sunday after Easter), was observed by the faithful as “days of joy and laughter” with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Churchgoers and pastors played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with water, told jokes, sang, and danced.

Sounds like a great way for Christians to rediscover the joy of our salvation!

See The Joyful Noiseletter for more info.